Had one of those situations at the weekend, I was preaching after coming back from Soul Survivor, the idea that I could reflect something of the theme and help to make it more relevant to those that had been there. The theme of Soul Survivor was ‘Into His Likeness’ I felt that something I had actually spoken on at Yellow Braces fitted this theme well and so was looking at the theme of ‘Love your Neighbour’. I had the talk worked out but after I had delivered it I just felt like I hadn’t really got it, I felt it had been weak and was disappointed with myself for not putting more work into it and coming out with something stronger. Do you ever get that feeling after preaching speaking? Anyway after the service several people spoke to me and several positive comments, some people picked up on points and how it spoke to them, I have also received an email from someone who was there talking about how helpful he found it. A great example I think of how when we can feel weakness Gods strength can come through, this is not the first time I have felt like this, felt disappointment with what I did but yet in response found that God did something in people.

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written by Simo

This weekend it was a great privilege to be invited to the wedding of Friends Mark and Lizzie. Lizzie joined the youth group Gill and I were running in our previous church when she was 13 and we saw her change and grow a lot over the next 4 years, including seeing the beginning of the relationship with Mark, they made such a great couple and it is great to see them now going on to make this commitment to each other. But have I really been in full time youth work that long that 13 year old members of my group are now old enough to get married? Of course Lizzie is not the first to get married, but she is the first who we saw through from the younger group that we did. The others who have got married (or are about to) didn’t even invite us (not that I’m bitter Peter or Laura!) but they were near the top end of their groups. It is always such a privilege to see the young people you work with go onto such great things, Not just in marriage but to see several now involved in ministry either voluntarily or as a job. To all those I have worked with over the years you have been such a great encouragement and I thank you for that, may God continue to guide and bless you in your lives and to Lizzie and Mark, thank you for letting us share in your special day and I pray that you will know God as the foundation of your love, drawing you closer and stronger everyday to each other and to himself.

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written by Simo